Former world number 5 Daniela Hantuchova, who observed Carlos Alcaraz closely as a consultant for Prime Video, was impressed by his week at Indian Wells and shared her thoughts on what fascinates her about the young Spaniard.
"Carlos Alcaraz comes from another planet. He has everything. I feel like he has Roger Federer's attack and Rafael Nadal's defense. With his speed and the way he moves, he can hit shots that we didn't think were possible. The power of some of his forehands... All the former players who were there wondered how he did it. He is pushing his tennis to another level, which is amazing to see. Everyone was wondering not so long ago what would happen in the future after Federer, Nadal and (Novak) Djokovic. I think he is the answer. There is no need to worry."
"It seems like he puts more pressure on his opponents than anyone else... It's true. And the scary thing about him is that he keeps improving. L
ast year, when he was playing on grass, we said it would take him a few years to become a true specialist. But with the speed at which he learns, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's already ready this year."
"What are the solutions to face such a complete player who has so many options? I'm only human, I don't have the answer (laughs). Maybe Novak will have solutions against him, and that will be fascinating to see. He's not here (the Serbian is not allowed to travel to the United States due to his vaccination situation and will also be absent in Miami), so we're not talking about him, but he's such an incredible champion. He can take the ball when it goes up, just as early as Carlos. He will have a say in this area. He stays much closer to his baseline than (Daniil) Medvedev, he has the speed to respond to drop shots, and he has experience. Everyone wants to see this match now. And I think Djokovic will be ready for it."
Carlos Alcaraz, who recently turned 18, has been hailed as a future star of tennis by many experts in the sport. His performances at Indian Wells, where he defeated some of the world's top players, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Diego Schwartzman, have only reinforced those claims. He will undoubtedly be a player to watch in the years to come and may even be the one to fill the void left by the likes of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic when they eventually retire.